DOUBLE FIGURE SCORER … Charlee Forward (above) was one of five Bluestreaks in double figures with 13 points in a 57-50 win over Bluffton.
PHOTOS BY RENEA KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
SECTIONAL TITLE TILT … Archbold’s Klaire Kern throws a pass inside during last Saturday’s sectional final versus Bluffton. VIEW PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
ARCHBOLD (February 21, 2026) – The Archbold Bluestreaks are sectional champions after defeating the Bluffton Pirates in a close 57-50 finish Saturday afternoon.
Archbold came in hot with a basket from sophomore Klaire Kern off a steal by freshman Molly Harris.
Senior Charlee Forward stole another Bluffton ball immediately after, but a teammate’s trey attempt was unsuccessful. A basket from junior Pirate Gracie Warren tied the game at two.
The Bluestreaks then stacked up an 11-point run starting with a steal and basket, then later three from Kern, a pair of free throws from junior Reagan Wendt, and a basket each for Forward and senior Miley Gericke.
Aggressive, loose play from both teams led to two more steals by Archbold and three by Bluffton during the first quarter, with Wendt from the former and junior Greta Myers from the latter each turning one into a breakaway layup.
The Pirates capitalized on their two additional steals with a basket from senior Lauren Dearth and a three from Myers.
The Bluestreaks ended up with 22 on the board to the Pirates’ 16 by the end of the quarter, with standout action including a quick-shot trey from Harris and a pair of threes from Bluffton sophomore Maelee Miller.
Play slowed in the second quarter, with both the Bluestreaks and the Pirates putting up just nine points each.
The majority of Bluffton’s points came through the efforts of senior Blair Utendorf, who put in a free throw and two baskets, while Wendt was Archbold’s standout, with two steals and three baskets, bringing the halftime score to 31-25.
After matching Archbold’s pace in the second quarter, Bluffton gained momentum in the third, thanks largely to Warren.
She would steal the ball for an eventual basket before later adding three free throws and a layup for the team’s first seven points of the quarter.
The Bluestreaks were held to 10 points in the quarter while the Pirates put up 15, at one point tying the game at 38 before Forward put in a basket and free throw on the very next possession.
Despite having tied twice but never giving up the lead, Archbold entered the final quarter up by just one point, 41-40, courtesy of Bluffton’s smothering defense.
The Bluestreaks went on a seven-point run to start the final quarter in a move that would turn out to be the difference between victory and overtime, with Harris putting in a basket followed by a free throw and two baskets from Forward.
The Pirates tried to respond with seven of their own but only managed five, with Myers stealing the ball on two consecutive Archbold possessions, leading to two free throws of her own and a missed trey from a teammate.
Myers was followed by Miller stealing a throw-in, leading to a basket from Myers. Each team would eventually manage another steal leading to two points.
A pair of free throws for Archbold’s Gericke and a breakaway layup from Bluffton’s Miller – but the Pirates were unable to close the gap and the Bluestreaks took the win and the sectional champion title with a final score of 57-50.
Archbold head coach Brian Ziegler said the game went as he expected, with both teams battling it out on defense.
“They do a nice job forcing the turnovers. I thought we did a nice job at a point with about four minutes to go in the game where we got a little bit of a spurt and caused them to turn it over and got some baskets and held on for the victory, and that’s all that matters right now,” Ziegler said.
BLUFFTON (50) – Bogart 5; Kleman 0; Hobensack 0; Miller 11; Dearth 2; Warren 9; Goldman 0; Schaadt 7; Utendorf 5; Myers 11; Totals: 14-4-10 – 50
ARCHBOLD (57) – Hurst 0; Forward 13; Kern 13; Gericke 10; Wendt 10; Meyer 0; Harris 11; Totals: 19-3-10 – 57
BHS 16 9 15 10 – 50
AHS 22 9 10 16 – 57